UAE Says Flydubai Co-Pilot Attempted 'Terrorist Act' in Mid-Flight Incident

The United Arab Emirates said a co-pilot attempted a 'terrorist act' during a Flydubai flight, using a crash axe against the captain inside the cockpit, according to a report from Anadolu Agency.

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said the incident was under active investigation, adding that authorities were working 'to uncover all circumstances of the incident.' The report did not specify the flight's route, the extent of any injuries to the captain, or how the situation was ultimately resolved during the flight.

Flydubai, a low-cost carrier based in Dubai, operates routes across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. An in-flight security incident involving a crew member presents unusual and serious circumstances for an airline, and UAE authorities' characterization of the act as an attempted terrorist act signals a high-priority criminal investigation into the co-pilot's actions and motivations.

Crash axes are standard safety equipment typically stored in aircraft cockpits for emergency use, such as to clear obstructions in the event of an accident, making their use as a weapon within the cockpit a significant departure from their intended purpose.

Details on the co-pilot's identity, nationality, and current legal status, including whether charges have been formally filed, were not included in the available report. Flydubai had not issued an independent public statement on the matter at the time of this report.

Aviation security incidents involving flight crew are rare, and the outcome of the UAE's investigation is likely to draw significant attention from aviation regulators and airlines operating in the region.